Israeli forces on Friday killed three Palestinian operatives in the Jenin area of the northern West Bank, including Qais Bitawi, a senior Hamas operative designated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as being involved in advancing significant terrorist activity. The operation was a joint effort by the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), culminating in an airstrike on a vehicle carrying Bitawi and two accomplices.
Weapons were discovered in the targeted vehicle, according to the military. The IDF stated that Bitawi was responsible for directing, funding, and executing terror attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. He also maintained connections with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and with operatives abroad.
Bitawi was reportedly a family member of Noor Bitawi, who commanded the Jenin terrorist network dismantled during "Operation Iron Wall" in May 2025. The IDF indicated that Israeli security forces would persist in their efforts to thwart terrorism in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz both congratulated the forces on the successful operation. Katz described the Jenin camp, which Bitawi commanded before 2025, as having been evacuated and cleansed of terrorists and infrastructure. He asserted that the IDF maintains a permanent presence in the camp and other terror strongholds in the West Bank, attributing a reported 80% decrease in terror activity to a proactive policy of pursuing and thwarting militants.
In anticipation of the upcoming Jewish holidays, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had previously ordered an elevated alert level in the West Bank on Thursday. He directed military units to prepare for rapid reinforcement, placing an additional active-duty division headquarters on heightened readiness. The military also stated its intention to maintain full multi-front readiness throughout the holiday period, with no operational stand-downs or troop reductions.
The High Holiday season in 2026 begins with Rosh Hashanah at sundown on September 11, followed by Yom Kippur at sundown on September 20, and Sukkot at sundown on September 25.